Initiatives Online

April 2010

CHI Implementing New Pharmaceutical Information Resource

CHI’s market-based organizations are now implementing Clinical Pharmacology, a comprehensive online drug reference database that includes ToxED, a point-of-care solution for poison and drug emergencies.

Clinical Pharmacology replaces Micromedex, which was CHI’s online drug reference database for the past six years. “It was time to evaluate the drug reference programs in the market and determine which best fits our needs,” said Tricia Killingsworth, director of clinical pharmacy services. “We brought together a multidisciplinary team of pharmacists, nurses and physicians from across CHI to investigate the options.”

Using an assessment tool that evaluated content, depth of information and ease of use, the team found that Clinical Pharmacology best meets the needs of pharmacists and other clinicians who will use the database.

The team also developed scenarios reflecting the different ways the database will be used on a daily basis, and was given access to Clinical Pharmacology for 30 days to test the scenarios. “We are confident that Clinical Pharmacology will meet our pharmacists’ needs, even in high-use and specialty practice areas,” said Steve Moore, MD, chief medical officer.

Elsevier/Gold Standard is the parent company for both Clinical Pharmacology and eClinical Reference Solutions, CHI’s recently launched online suite of nursing products. Clinicians can easily toggle between these products, which will help advance patient safety and evidence-based practice while reducing practice variation.

CHI hospitals are switching to the new resource now through June 30, when access to Micromedex will be discontinued. “We formed a Transition Team, which created and organized tools to help with local implementation,” said Killingsworth. “We also identified an implementation lead at each market-based organization, as well as ‘superusers’ who are trained to use the Clinical Pharmacology system to the fullest extent.”